The Romanian Deadlift (RDL) is so helpful in helping you find and connect with your transverse abdominis (the core muscles we most commonly lose touch with from pregnancy). I found the deadlift to be a really great tool in helping improve my diastasic recti, so long as I didn’t go too heavy.

These three progressions to help get you stronger and help you connect with your core when lifting heavier weights. Think about drawing your belly button to spine and lifting your pelvic floor in and up. I like to think of my body as a puppet, with the string connected to my pelvic floor. As I stand, the string is being pulled from the top of the spine and lifting each core muscle…all the way down to the pelvic floor…in and up.

Deadlifts should be a staple of everyone’s weightlifting routine. It is the single most effective exercise in strengthening your lower body and core. And we use it in everyday lift. Think about it…bending down to pick up a kid, lifting the laundry basket, picking up the 8 millionth lego of the day.